The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-07-30
HORSE-EAR WILSON.
The Somewhat Curious Peculiarly OF An
Obstinate Texas Farmer.

Obstinate Texas Farmer.
When the Texas Central railroad was
being constructed from Houston to San
Antonio. Andy Faulkner. the right-of-
way agent, had occasionally consider
able difficulty in persuading some of the
honest old farmers to allow the road to
pass through their land under any cir
cumstances whatever.
There was hard-faced old sinner,
named "Borse-ear" Wilson. who
owned a small ranch near Austin, and
who was bitterly opposed to railroads.
He got the name of "Horse-ear" from
his popularity Of moving his ears back
wards and forwards whenever he be.
came much excited. He was known to
be dangerous man. having killed sew
eral men in personal disputes. The
line of the Texas Central ran through
"Horse-ear" Wilson'S farm. and it be-
came the duty of Andy Faulkner to call
on Wilson and buy the right Of way.
Faulkner was warned by those who
knew Wilson to be very careful and
watch his ears, aud to get out Of the
way as soon as he began to work his
ears backwards and forwards, as that
was preliminary movement to his
reaching for his shotgun.
Andy rode up to the gate and called
'Hello" A notwithstanding man
with very large ears was seated on
bench in front of the log cabin door
with shotgun in his lap. He looked
up and replied:
"Hellow Yourself. What do yer
wantp"
want to talk business.
"Dismount and come in"
Faulkner did as he was told, and
took seat on sawbuck opposite old
''Horse-ear" Wilson.
"Air you deputy sheriff." asked
Wilson, moving one of his ears forward
and one backward.
mo, no. Captain Wilson, nothing Of
the kind" exclaimed Faulkner.
Now, what do yer want?"
Major Wilson, want to pay you
5000 in cash for you to let the Texas
Central run through the southeast cor
ner of YOUR lot"
you wanter keep me awake all
night with your internal trains scoot-
ing past my houseP"
"Oh, no, Colonel Wilson," replied
Andy. politely advancing Wilson an
other grade.
"You wanter run over my hogs and
refuse to pay for them. Is that what
yer after?" and the left ear advanced
ominously to the front
Nothing of the kind, General"
"You wanter set fire to my hay
stacks with sparks from your locomo-
tivePn and Wilson's right ear twitched
nervously as if he was hitting at fly
| with it.
Once more Faulkner insisted that he
had no such intention.
an count five," said old Wilson,
moving both ears to the front and cock
ing his gun, "Tll count five, and eff you
are in range I'll fill your hide so full of
buckshot that it won't hold shucks
| One!"
| Reliable witnesses say that when old
"Horse-ear" Wilson counted four Andy
Faulkner was so far of that he couldn't
be reached with the longest-ranged ar
tillery. This is probably an exaggera-
ton, but Andy didn't stop to pick ber-
ries until he was seven miles from Will
sons ranch.
About week after this occurrence
Andy Faulkner was seated in his Office
at Houston. Tex, when there came a
timid knock at the door.
Come in," said Andy.
The door opened slowly, and old
'Horse-ear" Wilson peeped Jin. Andy
partially opened drawer that con-
tanned an army-sized revolver. 1t was
indeed Wilson, but there was such a
pleasant smile on his face that he did
not seem to be the same man.
II wanter accept that offer you made
me about the right of way" said Will
son.
"Ain't you afraid Of being kept
awake at nights by passing trainsP"
queried Andy, putting his hand in the
drawer
"Not Bit replied Wilson, neither
of his ears moving in the least.
.'But how about your hogs being run
over by the locomotives"
"If they get run over it's thar own
fault. You can buy heap of hogs fol
5000. Just make out the papers and
I'll sign 'em, and then we'll go out and
take something"
Faulkner made out the papers. They
were duly signed, and the 5000 wa
paid over to Wilson, who seemed te
beam with happiness
''Now, my friend" said Faulkner
II want to know what has occurred tt
make you change your mind"
"Horse-ear" Wilson drew Faulkner
to one side and whispered:
1--WE got to have money to fix up on
There's wilder who owns forty thou
sand head of cattle moved into ou1
neighborhood; and believe if slicl
up a little she's mine. Now we'll &c
and see man, and then l want yor
to go and show me where l can gel
some new clothes and my photograph
taken-he! hev' giggled the old goat
punching Andy in the ribs.
"Horse-Ear" Wilson married thu
widow but as he was subsequently ar
rested for shooting some of his wife
relations his old habit of moving hi
| oo,, l.. lie orI ,~,.oIo